Wall



Dec. 18, 1928.

F. KROPF WALL Filed March 28, 1927 of A 1 u 1" .1 x l: I

w 4 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES FRANK imorr, or WAMEGO, KANSAS.

"WALL.

Applicationflled March 2 8, 1927. Serial No. 178,925.

My invention relates to improvements in walls. It relates particularly.to walls composed of hollow building blocks laid in rows fords greatstrength to the wall.

one above the other. j 1

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a novel wall of thekind described, which is, interiorly, well ventilated from top to bottomand end to end, which will permit a minimum amount of moisture to passthrough the wall, which has novel means for tying the blocks togetherwithout interfering with the interior ventilation, which is very strong,durable, and easy to lay, and which at both sides presents a goodappearance.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodimentof my invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved wall, partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of my improved blocks.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the tying members.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the differentviews.

My improved building block comprises, preferably, a rectangular hollowblock 1,

preferably composed of sand and cement, or

other material adapted to be molded, and which is open at one verticalside and closed at all of itsother sides and ends.

Each of the blocks 1 has its inner walls diverging toward the open sideof the block, enabling it to be readily removed from the mold, and, aswill be hereinafter described, providing means for preventing theaccumulation of water in the blocks, after they have been laid in thewall.

Each block 1 is preferably provided with a central vertical partition 2,which is substantially double the thickness of one of the end walls.

In constructing my improved wall the blocks 1 1 are laid in two parallelvertical spaced tiers having between them a vertical air space 3, whichis substantially co-extensive with the height and length of the tiers.

Each tier comprises horizontal rows of the blocks, disposed one abovethe other, the adjacent rows being laid so as to break the joints at thecentral portions of the blocks. .The blocks being of equal length, thepartition 2 of each block will aline vertically with the adjacent endsof the blocks in the row next above and in the row next below. This af-The blocks are laid in suitable cementing material, such as cement 4,the open sides of the blocks of each tier being next adjacent to the airspace 3. This provides a wall having no openings at either side, andaffords a broad surface on the upper side of each block upon which tolay the cement 4. Each block of each tier is spaced throughout from theblocks of the opposite tier.

When two corresponding rows of blocks have been laid in the two tiers,tying means are laid upon the upper sides of the two rows,

said tying means extending across the air space 3, and being embedded inthe layer of cement which is then applied to the upper sides ofthe tworows.

. The tying means may comprise a plurality of tying members, each ofwhich has, when laid in the wall, a laterally turned portion disposed ineach tier. The preferred form of tying member comprises an S-shaped wire5 of suitable thickness disposed transversely, as shown in Figs. 1 and2, the tying member being spaced from the outer sides of the wall.

After the tying members 5 and the cement 4 have been laid upon the tworows of blocks, the next two'rows of blocks are next. laid thereupon soas to break the joints with the the manner just herein before describeduntil the wall has been finished.

By having the inner Walls of each block diverging toward the open sideof the block,

when the blocks are laid in the wall with the open sides next to theair. space 3, the upper side of the bottom of each block will slantdownwardly from the closed outer side of the block to the air space 8,whereby any moisture which may be absorbed from the exterior of the wallwill not collect in the blocks, but will run therefrom into the airspace 3 to the bottom of the latter from which it npay be discharged atone or both ends there- 0 1 By having each block of each tier spacedthroughout from the blocks of the opposite tier, the moisture absorbedby the blocks of heat or cold through the Walh as well as serving as ameans for preventing moisture passing through the Wall.

I do not limit my'invcntion to the structure shown and described, asmany modifications, Within the scope of the appended claims, may he madeWithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

\Vhat I claim is In a Wall, two parallel vertical spaced tiers of hollowblocks, an air space between the tiers, each tier comprising horizontalrows 'of blocks cemented together one above the other, each block beingopen at the side next adjacent to the air space and closed at all of itsother sides, the upper side of the bottom of each block incliningdownwardly to.

said air space, each. block being spaced throughout from the blocks inthe opposite tier, and tying means across said air space connecting saidtiers.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANK KROPF.

